Gaura plant named ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gaura  plant named ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’, characterized by its deep rose-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage often tinted red, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Gaura lindheimeri.

Variety denomination: ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gaura plant botanically known as Gaura lindheimeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during June 2005. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Gaura cultivars that are free flowering with a compact growth habit.

The new Gaura cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Gaura lindheimeri breeding selection coded 0024-B2-B2, not patented, characterized by its dark rose-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Gaura lindheimeri breeding selection coded 0032-A1-4, not patented, characterized by its light blush-pink colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2012 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2012 in Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Gaura plant:

-   -   1. Deep rose-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage often tinted red; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a more upright growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Gaura cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Crimson Butterflies’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,189. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Crimson Butterflies’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of ‘Crimson         Butterflies’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have greener-colored foliage than         plants of ‘Crimson Butterflies’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately two months in a greenhouse and two months outdoors in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch prior to transplant and one pinch two weeks after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2014 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown utilizing a soilless growth medium in one-gallon containers for approximately two months in a greenhouse and two months outdoors in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch prior to transplant and one pinch two weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Gaura lindheimeri cultivar Whiskers Deep     Rose. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Gaura lindheimeri breeding             selection coded 0024-B2-B2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Gaura lindheimeri breeding             selection coded 0032-A1-4, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 12 to 14 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous white to brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 80.0 cm. Width: Approximately 53.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Shape: Round in cross section. Strength: Strong,             somewhat flexible. Length to base of inflorescence:             Approximately 26.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture:             Sparsely pubescent. Color of young stem: 146A. Color of             mature stem: 146A often tinted 187B from sun; stems become             woody 200C with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular or acute angle to stem. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire to very slightly dentate. Apex:             Acute to broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 4.9 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface:             Moderately pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and             mature foliage: N137A with venation of 146D often tinted             187B from sun. Color of lower surface of young and mature             foliage: N137C with venation of 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color:             146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Whiskers Deep Rose’ is freely flowering             under outdoor growing conditions with substantially             continuous blooming from early spring through autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             3 to 4 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Spicate raceme. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 65. Fragrance: None detected. Length or             height: Approximately 40.0 cm for most mature. Width:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per             inflorescence: Approximately 1 to 2. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Solitary, actinomorphic, sessile.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 187A to 187B with 137A at             tip.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Cruciform. Length: Approximately 2.6 cm.             Width: Approximately 2.8 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Four, non-overlapping. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute to             rounded. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm.             Width: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and             fully open: 63C to 63B with venation of 63A. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: 63B with venation of 63A.         -   Stipule.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately             9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color of upper and             lower surfaces: 146B with 187A at apex.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Star-like. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at             distal end: Up to approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, petaloid, unfused. Shape:             Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of inner and outer             surfaces: 181B and 146B with 187A at apex.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 8 per             flower, dorsifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Filament length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Filament color:             NN155D with a faint overlay of 64A near anther, opaque.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Anther color: 181A, darkens to 185A with age. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: 4C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower, inferior ovary. Pistil length: Approximately             3.3 cm. Stigma shape: Four-lobed. Stigma length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 154D. Style length above             hypanthium: Approximately 1.7 cm. Style color: NN155D with             an overlay of 64A near stigma, opaque. Hypanthium length:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 cm.             Ovary width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely             pubescent. Ovary color: 146C with an overlay of 187A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Gaura has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaura plant named ‘Whiskers Deep Rose’, substantially as herein shown and described. 